15th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival

February 25, 2017

Cape Coral is home to the largest known population of the Florida Burrowing Owl which is a species of special concern. These pint sized birds burrow underground where they nest from early February through mid-July and are now the official city bird of Cape Coral.

Join us at this family fun filled event which celebrates the start of the burrowing owl nesting season and all of Cape Coral’s natural wildlife treasures.

Festival highlights include environmental and wildlife organizations with educational exhibits and live animals, bus tours to local burrowing owl burrows, demonstrations on burrowing owl burrow maintenance and starter burrows. There will be on site speakers with wildlife presentations and live birds of prey. Enjoy a tour through the live interactive butterfly house and learn about their host and nectar plants. Artists, photographers and craft vendors of all things natural, native and wild will have lovely items for sale. Children will enjoy the free arts and crafts activities at the Children’s Creative Corner. Also on site will be music and food vendors, so plan to spend the day.

Admission is $5 donation for ages 16 and older with free parking. Event proceeds will go toward local wildlife protection, preservation and education.

If that isn't enough, we have a special tour just for photographers. This tour leaves early in the morning to catch that "first light". On board will be an experienced photographer to give you tips on how to photograph these beautiful owls. For more information visit our PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR page. Space is limited to reserve your spot today!

Cats

If you really care about your precious little cat — KEEP IT INDOORS!

If the fact that the life span of a cat kept indoors can be upwards of 20 years, while the life span of a cat allowed to roam outdoors is only 5 years isn’t enough to want you to keep your cat indoors check out the list of diseases your cat can contract while outdoors. Fleas, parasites, Feline Aids (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)) and feline Leukemia (FeLV), Distemper (feline panleukopenia), (all fatal), rabies,abscesses, ticks, and ringworm are the most common diseases contracted by outdoor cats.

In addition, your cat runs the risk of being stolen, angering your neighbors for defecating and urinating in their prize flowers, getting hit by cars, bit by rabid wild animals, getting caught in traps set for other animals, captured for use as science experiments, being poisoned by drinking antifreeze or abused by humans.

After a night of crawling in and out of garbage dumpsters, eating rotten food, and eating mice, do you really want Fluffy, sleeping in bed with you and walking all over you kitchen counter tops!!!!!!

If this hasn’t convinced you to keep your cats indoors, the fact that both feral cats and domesticated cats kill hundreds of thousands of birds annually here in the U.S., including our precious Burrowing Owls should make you stop and think!

If you own a cat, please read the brochure, Cats Indoors! put out by the American Bird Conservancy

CCFW Calendar

Butterfly Stepping Stones

CCFW – Proud Member of Florida SEE

Florida Society for Ethical Tourism is the professional authority for the ecotourism industry in Florida. It established and maintains a professional code of ecotourism ethics in order to encourage an awareness and stewardship of Florida's natural heritage.”

Important Note about Hotel Reservations

Book your hotel reservations for anywhere in the world and 5% will be donated to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Help protect Florida's wildlife by using the following link to book your hotel stays. wildlifefoundationofflorida.com/birding